New electronic communication systems are rewiring the connections between people
and the places where we live and work. In this series, guest speakers led an
examination of how new communities are being forged, familiar communities are
being reshaped, and how democratic access is being addressed. From early pioneers
of Internet connectivity to artists exploring the potential of digital media to
sociologists deciphering the casual conversations of electronic mail senders,
these sessions have created lively discussions about the simulated, wired, and
unwired realms of our daily existence.

February 4
Marshall McLuhan Revisited
A screening of This Is Marshall McLuhan: The Medium Is the Message
(1968) followed by a discussion of McLuhan's anticipation of many of the conditions
of the wired world of today.

March 11
The Information SupermarketMacworld senior editor Charles Piller conducted a national study
showing that consumer preferences regarding such things as video on demand and
home shopping are not necessarily what people are most interested in from the
Internet. Rather, Pillar has found that people are more interested in highly
interactive communication such as voting from home, electronic town hall meetings,
remote education, etc. This will necessitate a much less expensive wiring scheme
than current Infobahn proposals, designed largely to deliver a one-way stream
of electronic products and entertainment, will require.